Fine-Tuning The Forbidden
It is more than a little interesting that there is no recognized infallibly-held central spiritual authority in Islam. There are spiritual leaders, clerics, academics, authorities, and experts in explaining Islamic precepts and edicts, capable of interpreting, synthesizing and issuing results accepted by believers. They are held in high esteem, respected for the strength and the breadth of their knowledge.There are ayatollahs, imams and mullahs all of whom represent the highest degree of spiritual awakening and alignment with Allah's demands upon His worshippers. His hallowed instructions to the faithful are conveyed by these clerics, some of whom have spent decades in academic research and worshipful analytical practise to ensure that they convey to their flocks an accurate picture of Islamic principles and morals.
On the other hand, there is no requirement within Islam for anyone representing himself as an imam or a cleric at any level to receive a clear and unambiguous education in Islam, the interpretation of the Koran, or the intricacies of sharia law. Anyone can decide to dedicate themselves to Islam and to the representation of its ideals, sharing their fervor with other believers consenting to be led by them.
Often, men who practise and have received their formal education in other professions - the law, medicine, engineering, are commonly drawn to representing themselves as clerics and are offered great respect for their achievements in education even though religious scholarship is absent. They may become adept at drawing inspiration from the Koran and offer their own interpretations, but they have not been schooled for that purpose.
There is a growing realization, also, however, that a growing incidence of fatwas have proliferated, affecting everything from how to conduct oneself in everyday life situations, to bringing censure upon those singled out for reproach in bringing shame to Islam. These fatwas encompass areas from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Fatwa: Legal opinion based on the holy texts of Islam, usually ratified by senior clerics.As evidence of the growing popularity of fatwas, Cairo's Al Azhar University issued less than 200 edicts daily a century ago, while currently that number has swelled to one thousand. These fatwas represent pronouncements whose purpose is to inform the faithful on behaviours tolerated within Islam.
Ayatollah: Title in the hierarchy of the Shi'ite clergy.
Imam: A mosque's director of prayer and the authority on all matters of religious regulation.
Ulema: Doctors of Islamic law.
Taliban: Graduates of a religious school.
Madrassa: Religious school where Islamic law is taught.
Such missions to inform can now be found on television and the Internet for opinions originating throughout the world of Islam, from Indonesia and Morocco to Egypt and India. Yet Islamic scholars are quick to blame the proliferation of fatwas appearing on television as creating confusion and diluting the true nature of Islamic thought.
These pronouncements are meant to reflect the writings of the Koran and words attributed to the Prophet Mohammad. Yet the very presence of a wide stream of conflicting opinions reaching millions of believers is adding to the general chaotic state of Islamic understanding. Fatwas have addressed matters as diverse as social issues and strictures, to the placing of death sentences for blasphemy.
There have been fatwas that ban sculptures, that authorize female circumcision, even one that urged that women who meet alone with men should breastfeed them to create a "maternal" bond that would effectively dissuade from having sexual relations. Scholars have brought forward contradictory fatwas about the legitimacy of suicide bombings, and whether attacks on civilians are justified by the Koran.
Some fatwas have pronounced on the unacceptability of watching television; of the propriety of having dogs indoors; theft with the use of credit cards; and loudspeakers used in prayers during a burial service. Dogs are considered filthy and must not be allowed indoors. Credit card theft may be considered a type of jihad against the U.S. and Israel for waging illegal war on Muslims.
One expert's analytical interpretation is clarified alternately, opposing another's. A confusion of moral and ethical insights results. The issuing of a fatwa in one country may engender an opposing fatwa in another. This results in heated debate, contradictions, challenges to authority. Confusing those who receive the contradictory edicts no end.
"The real problem is that religion is being put out front at all times and injected into everything" according to Aly El-samman, head of Al-Azhar University's Dialogue and Islamic Relations Committee. "This makes the need for knowledge more pressing, but the need isn't met."
Now I know where that sage old saying, "get a life" comes from.
Labels: Religion, That's Life
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, November 08, 2007
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